Tora leisurely strolled along the sidewalk, taking in the sights of the city. He was on his way to Capsule Corp again after having visited Jenny in the hospital. The doctors insisted on keeping her for a few days, so he tried to stop by and see her at least once a day to check on her.

A familiar voice across the road drew his attention and Tora paused, seeing little Marron on the sidewalk with her mother. He chuckled to himself as Marron tugged on her mother's hand, pointing excitedly at something.

Eighteen smiled and looked over at the ice cream cart across the road, "Just a minute sweetie, Momma's gotta get some money from the ATM and then we can get some scoops, alright? Do you know what flavor you want?"

Marron nodded, bouncing excitedly, "I want them all, Momma! In a chocolate cone!" She looked over across the road, looking both ways.

Eighteen chuckled as she keyed in her pin number, "Almost done sweetheart."

Marron gave a squeal and hurried over across the road.

Tora's heart nearly stopped when Marron ran out into the road. Yes, she'd looked both ways before crossing, but the car speeding towards her had obviously not seen the stop sign. Without even thinking twice about it, Tora ran out into the road, throwing himself in front of Marron, bracing himself for impact. The car slammed against his hip, the back-end of the car lifting into the air, the sound of metal crunching, glass bursting, and tires screeching filling the air. Tora was breathing hard as the car settled, his hip screaming from the force of the hit, but he was still standing and he turned to look at Marron, who was cowering in his shadow, shaking like a leaf. "You alright, kid?" He asked as he picked her up.

Marron blinked up at him, her mouth dropping wide in shock and awe before a large smile gripped her face, "You saved me!" She threw her little arm around his neck, gasping out as she saw the blood soaking through his jeans. "You hurt yourself."

Eighteen turned, hearing the horrible noise of the crash, "MARRON!" Her heart ran cold when she saw Tora holding her little girl, blood running down his leg from where he had stopped the car from hitting her.

"It's nothing," Tora told Marron as Eighteen came running. "She's alright," he assured her, handing the little girl over to her mother. He turned towards the driver of the car, who was screaming her head off. He sighed and rolled his eyes; these humans were so self-absorbed, they couldn't even stop playing with their phones long enough to operate a vehicle. He took Eighteen by the arm and steered her towards the sidewalk, limping as he walked beside her. People were staring at him, some of them clapping or shouting that he was a hero. He just wanted to get out of there. He could feel Eighteen's shoulder trembling as she held her daughter. "Now the question is, are YOU okay?" he asked.

Eighteen hugged her daughter closer to her, stepping away from the Saiyan, giving him a sharp look. "I'm fine. Thank you," she said bitterly, as if she was disgusted to do so. She was thanking one of the murderers of her late husband; it still made her stomach churn.

Marron frowned at her momma, then looked at Tora as she hugged Eighteens neck, "Thank you for saving me. Momma is just still really sad about Papa."

Eighteen felt her face going red and she shifted her daughter in her grasp, covering her mouth. "Hush and be still," she said before she glared at Tora, "Just stay away from me."

Tora sighed through his nose. He'd been trying to be nice to her every time he happened to run into her, but she was always so cold and stoic, wanting nothing to do with him. He couldn't say he blamed her, but still. It would be nice if they could at least be civil. He looked at Marron and gave her a warm smile. "You be good now, okay?" He fought the urge to chuckle when Eighteen blushed; he couldn't help but think that she looked cute like that.

Marron giggled, bright and happy, "I will!" She waved as her mother started walking.

Eighteen was shaking, her mind going over the events. Ice cream forgotten as the cold fear of nearly losing her daughter washed over her. If Tora hadn't stepped in… She closed her eyes, trying not to think about it.

"Can we still get ice cream?"

She frowned at her daughter's request for ice cream "Alright, baby. Then let's go work on your invitations and pass them out."

Tora frowned slightly as she walked away. He felt he deserved a little bit better of a thank-you than that. There had been quite a bit of time that had passed since her husband's death, shouldn't she be done with the grieving process by now? He knew it would always hurt, he himself knew first-hand that the death of someone you cared about never truly quits hurting, but if she was still clinging to that grief, it couldn't be healthy for her. The least she could've done was give him a proper thank you. "Oh yeah, Tora, thanks so much for saving my daughter's life," he muttered sarcastically under his breath as he turned and started limping down the sidewalk. He cast a glance over his shoulder at Eighteen as she carried her daughter away in the opposite direction. At least he was making good on his promise that he would keep them from harm. He wondered how bad his hip really was as the pain started to increase, his adrenaline wearing off. "Way to go, old man," he muttered to himself as he entered Capsule Corp. "Break your hip trying to play the hero." He paused and frowned. "And ruin your favorite jeans in the process. Goddammit."

Bulma groaned at the way Tora was limping when he came into the house. She had rather taken to the other Saiyan, often hearing on how much he visited Goku and he could train with Vegeta. Even one night talked him into going to a deserted area of the world and transformed on the night of a full moon, a battle to remember. She hurried over, ushering him to sit down, looking over his a hip with a critical eye. "What on earth happened to you?!"

Tora could've cursed himself for letting the pain show, although the blood staining his jeans would've given him away anyway. He grit his teeth as he sat down. "Got hit by a car," he answered casually. "That little girl Marron. She ran out into traffic when her mother wasn't looking. I didn't have a choice." He frowned, shifting his weight to his uninjured hip and unbuttoned his jeans, then slid them and his boxers down to reveal his hip. His hip was already blossoming in a dark bruise, blood dripping from it. He tried to give Bulma a cocky grin. "'Tis but a flesh wound," he joked.

Bulma rolled her eyes, "You can't be in too much pain if you are quoting Monty Python." She sighed and poked at the bruise, trying to decide how badly he was injured, "You saved Marron? That sweet little dear! I'll be Eighteen was happy about that… " She trailed off as she saw his face, "She wasn't?! Why the hell not? I ought to call her up right now and give her a piece of my mind!"

Tora shook his head, appreciative of Bulma's defensiveness over him. Prince Vegeta had chosen an incredible mate. Tora was surprised that the prince had been able to find such a woman here on earth. Most females here didn't seem like they could handle a Saiyan, in any sense. "No, don't do that," he said, sucking air through clenched teeth as she poked at him. "She hates me enough as it is. Don't give her more reason to do so by calling her and yelling at her. She just... she's never going to forgive me for what happened to her husband. I get that. It's alright."

Bulma frowned and went over to the drawer to fish out the little sack of senzu beans. She only used them in cases of emergencies, such as the husband blowing up the gravity room and himself along with it, but it had been a while since anything had happened. She carried the bean over to him and offered it. She frowned, feeling sad for Tora and Eighteen. She could understand both sides. He just wanted to try to make up for his mistakes and Eighteen wouldn't let him. But on the other hand, she understood Eighteen's position. If a group of people killed her husband and then later wanted to be friends, she would tell them to fuck off. "Well, you are a good man for keeping your word to Krillin like this. I know if he were here, he'd thank you so many times over for saving his daughter."

"Thanks," Tora muttered, taking the bean and crunching into it, pulling a face at the bitter taste. He forced himself to swallow it before he sighed in relief as he felt his hip heal. "Good as new," he grinned and fixed his jeans, wondering if he could get the stain out later. He wondered if Krillin really would have thanked him. Oh well. It didn't matter. He'd done the right thing and he shouldn't have to have thanks for it. He gave Bulma an amused look. "Too bad you had those beans. I was gonna ask you to kiss it and make it better," he teased and wagged his eyebrows, knowing she would know he meant nothing by it.

Bulma laughed and mock punched his shoulder, "You do that and my husband will knock your your head off." She shook her head at the smile still on his face, "Well! You saved Marron, I know it's not a great thank you, but how about I cook you up some lunch? Your choice!" She grinned.

Back at her home with Marron, Eighteen looked over her baby for any kind of marks, but found none and she smiled, "Now, let's work on those invitations."

Marron smiled widely and nodded furiously, "Can I invite all my friends?"

Later that day, after all the invitations had been made, they both went to Capsule Corp. Marron watched as her mother drank her coffee with Bulma, chatting away about what all to plan for her birthday party. She giggled and ran off, clutching her card to her chest. She had already given Trunks his card, invited Catie and older Trunks as well. There was just one more person she wanted to come, but when she brought it up to her mother, she had gone quiet and said no. But mother said all her friends were invited and this man had saved her life. Didn't that make him a good person and a friend? She wandered around back to the garden where she found him curled up on a chair, his tail twitching this way and that, reading a book. It almost seemed funny, watching the large man read a book, occasionally licking his thumb to turn the pages, the way his tail just moved around as if it had a mind of his own.

Tora sat up a little straighter and set the open book face-down in his lap when he saw little Marron standing there, holding a brightly colored piece of paper to her chest. "Hey kid," he smiled warmly, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He looked around for Eighteen, but didn't see her. He almost sighed in relief. He didn't feel like being yelled at or given another one of her frosty looks. Once was enough for one day. "Whatcha got there?" he asked, nodding towards the paper she held, her eyes dancing with an excited gleam in them. She looked as if she was about to burst with excitement. He chuckled. "Well, come on. Out with it."

Marron giggled and ran over, climbing eagerly onto the chair with him, and sat on his knees. "I made this for you!" she said and pushed the card against his chest, "To say thank you for saving me in the road!" She held up her hands as if she was sharing a big secret, "I want you to come to my party, too. I even gave you an invitation! You have to come! Pleeeeeeeeease!?"

Tora laughed warmly and looked at the card. It was decorated heavily with glitter that sprinkled all over his hands as he opened it and the little invitation fell out. He read the card, written in child's handwriting in crayon. He felt a very tiny knot form in his throat and he grinned at her. "Thank you," he said. He opened the little invitation, seeing Eighteen's handwriting stating that the party would take place that Saturday afternoon at the park nearby. Obviously she'd written up a bunch of these and Marron had stolen one away to give to him. "I'm not sure your mother wants me there, little one," he said, wondering which would be worse. Hurting the child's feelings? Or risking pissing off her mother.

Marron looked up at him with big eyes, "Pleeease say you'll come! Momma said it's my party and I can invite who I want and I want you there!" She smiled sweetly at him, "Just come for like… a million minutes and then you can go! I'm gonna have ice cream cake, pin the tail on the donkey… uhmmmmmmm. And lots of other stuff! It's gonna be fun! Please, please, please come!"

Tora chuckled and grasped her chin gently with his forefinger and thumb. "Now how can I say no to that?" he smiled. "Of course I'll be there." His eyes went wide at her excited squeal as she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. He patted her on the back, then set her down on the ground. He didn't understand why these earthlings insisted on celebrating every single little thing, but this was important to Marron and he couldn't resist the urge to join in with everyone. He wondered if there was something special he was supposed to do or if he would be expected to dress up. He'd have to ask Trunks or Vegeta about it. "Now you go play. Be good for your mother."

Marron nodded excitedly and hurried off, jumping up and down in the air as she ran off to find her mother. She was going to have the greatest birthday ever.

Trunks chuckled from where he was standing. "Suckerrrrr," he hissed teasingly.

Tora turned in his chair to see Trunks leaning against the tall shade tree that grew in the corner of the yard. He chuckled, "I suppose so." He looked back down at the invitation and thank-you card in his hands. He held up the invitation to Trunks. "Care to explain this to me? I just made that little girl a promise and, well, I have no clue what the hell I just promised her. I just heard the words 'ice cream' and knew I couldn't say no."

Trunks threw his head back and laughed, "It's a birthday card invitation. We do it on this planet to celebrate the day someone is born on this planet. When they start living. You know? Lots of food, presents, it's what you give the birthday person. Ten bucks says Marron wants a princess-themed party."

"Oh gods, what have I gotten myself into?" Tora muttered, leaning his face hard into the palm of his hand. He dragged his hand down his face, sitting up straighter again. "A present? What the hell am I supposed to give her?" This whole thing was bizarre to him. He wondered if Marron was going to tell her mother that she'd invited him or if his arrival at the party would be a surprise. He nearly snickered as he imagined the look on Eighteen's face. He looked at Trunks again, appreciating the younger half-Saiyan. He got along well with him and Tora thought Trunks' mate Catie was hilarious. "The traditions here on earth really are strange, you know that?"

Trunks laughed out loud, "Yeah I guess they are. At least to you. And she's a little girl, get her something with unicorns and pink. Pink unicorns? Orrrrrrr you could… do something else." He held a hand to his chin thinking. What would a more personable present be? A picture of her father? A picture of her mother and father together. He grinned, and snapped his fingers. "I think I have just the thing. Come with me; my mom's got some old photos we can get into."

Tora sighed and got to his feet, setting the book on the little table next to the chair. Maybe one of these days it would be quiet enough around him to actually read an entire book. He followed Trunks inside, giving a wave to Bulma as they passed her and Vegeta, Eighteen not even so much as sparing Tora a glance. "She's going to have a fit when I show up there," he said, half worried and half amused by the idea. "I don't suppose there's some strange human custom to make her forgive me, is there? Something I haven't heard of yet?"

Trunks looked at him knowingly. "The only thing that works is time. Don't worry. Just keep being awesome to her and her kid and she will come around." He stopped near some photo albums lining a bookshelf and he read through the years dated on the side. He grinned and pulled one down, "Here we go! The year Krillin and Eighteen started dating." He flipped open the book, looking through the pictures, "I doubt Marron has seen any of these." He paused at one where Eighteen and Krillin were cuddling together on a picnic table smiling at the camera, pressed cheek to cheek, looking happier than he could remember them being. He took the picture out and handed it to Tora. "If you ask mom, I'll bet she can find a cutesy pink frame for it. Eighteen might like this too, to show her that you aren't trying to make them forget about Krillin, but you know... Embrace his memory or something cheesy like that."

"That IS cheesy," Tora muttered, but took the picture and looked at it. There was a light in Eighteen's eyes in that photo that he hadn't seen before. She looked truly happy and he realized in that moment just how beautiful she really was. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. That happiness had been taken from her and it was his crew who had done it. He thought he understood her hatred of him then. "All right," he sighed. "So the picture and... ah hell, maybe a pink unicorn to go with it." He cringed at the thought of going into one of those toy stores and purchasing something like that. "You think if I bribe Catie she might go to the store for me?" he asked hopefully.

Trunks grinned. "Yeah, but she'll want something in return. Something sweet like candy or chocolate, but I'll take care of that." He laughed and led the Saiyan away, "Let's get it over with now, the party is this weekend and we can't forget. Let's catch Catie in a good mood or negotiating with her is going to be a nightmare."